Monday, December 16, 2013

Plan B for women....

This appeared in Mumbai Mirror...

Plan B for women….

Now that it is official, and we are told
men are under siege, what are we supposed to feel / do/ think? This is terribly
confusing. Should we be feeling sorry for men? Are we meant to rush to their
side loaded with tea and sympathy? Or should we leave them alone till we figure
out what to do with …. With…. OURSELVES? Shall we engage the guys in a ‘constructive’ dialogue?
Appoint a referee? Withdraw into our respective caves and wait for the crisis
to blow over? No.No.No. Ladies, hit that pause button, stay calm and ask
yourselves just one important question : what it is we need to do to fix the
complex, essentially sex-related problem that has crept up on us. I have given
the matter a good think, and here is what I believe will get us the best
results. The smart thing to do involves the ‘N-word’. It is a word women aren’t
too comfortable with for some inexplicable reason. That word is NEGOTIATE. There is no crisis in the world that cannot
be resolved through negotiation of the right kind. Okay…. so here’s the sticky
part. Who defines ‘right’? I’d say
emphatically and firmly - we do. It is
our turn to rewrite the rules. And this
is where Plan B kicks in.

Once we are ready to negotiate ( there is
no reason on earth to recklessly rush in till we are all on the same page), we
can open official talks. Clarity is key at this point. Let’s not make absurd
demands . Let’s be practical.And dare I say it – reasonable. Unfocussed anger
is counter productive. Plan B states we have to let go of that anger. Surely,we
want to improve our own lives, not destroy someone else’s. Stay constructive.
Stay selfish. List out everything that has pulled you down as a woman. If there
are self-esteem issues, address them in an upfront way. If there are workplace
problems, table your grievances and deal with them. If the trouble spots are
domestic, don’t shut up and put up. Articulate your feelings. Do so directly
with the person giving you grief. The main thing at this point is to speak up.

Sounds easy. But it is one of the toughest
things to do, if you have never done it. Take a long, hard look at your
priorities. What is it YOU need to
change first? Your attitude? Do it!This is really an important turning point
for all of us – men and women. It would be pretty idiotic to not recognize its
significance and carry on like nothing happened. A lot has happened. Most of it
unpleasant.There is a new awakening. And it is female. Women are fighting back.Men
are seething about and smarting over this guerrilla attack. Most men are
genuinely flabbergasted. Some still haven’t got it.Whether it is Tejpal or
Ganguly or Asaram. Unless men realize the seriousness of the current crisis, there can be no
meaningful dialogue. In order to push
ahead with Plan B, we need to be doubly serious ourselves. Ultimatums like: “
Do this or else,” never work. So here’s step number one: Don’t jump down
anybody’s throat . It will go against you. Reexamine your approach - at home
and in the workplace. If you are sure you aren’t sending out mixed signals, you
are doing fine. Stay consistent. Don’t say one thing and do another. Stay firm.
Don’t waver. If you have taken a position, stick to it. Be realistic and
reasonable. Good negotiations are about recognizing the other person’s right to
present a different perspective. Listen keenly. Be respectful and polite at all times. Nothing
confuses the other party as much as dealing with a calm, smiling opponent. Be
transparent. Most negotiations go for a toss because people presume too many
things and…. scowl!.Be true to yourself – if there is something specific that
makes you uncomfortable, say it without embarrassment. Plan B is about
resolution and reconciliation. Not revenge and retribution. Sense the mood and
push for closure. Timing is everything. Smart negotiators know when to back
off. If you believe your objectives have been met, shake hands and settle the
deal. Frankly, there is gender fatigue in the air. Most sensible men have
finally got the message.

11 comments:

A long time ago, a Sadhu told me, that there is a second line to, "Men are from Mars, and women are from Venus." And it goes like this: "But then, they decided to live together on earth, and make peace." They also decided to make a lot of other things together, that Sadhus don't like to talk about.

India is going through a hard time, but we will eventually figure this one out. I am sure, your grandma used to say, "This too shall pass!" Mine, always said, that it has to.

In the mean time, you should enjoy some of the other things that life has to offer, like bright colors and loud music -- something like a Desi wedding! And you are always welcome to read "The Peanut Express", where someone you know very well, is now being appreciated as the new Flora Aunty.

Like always, I am in agreement with you, but for the following caveats, Shobhaa!

[1]

What does a girl do after being molested by a very powerful and highly connected perpetrator like former Supreme Court judge Ganguly?

[2]

And then, when some political types tell the truth and point out that Justice Ganguly's pawing the girl is being used by all those hurt by his judgements to get even, what does the girl in question and more importantly India's womanhood - someone so well informed like you - and someone so well connected - like you again - do?

[3]

And what do political jokers in the pack who understand most things - like poor old me - who know that (i) Ganguly is in the wrong when he had pawed the girl (b) Ganguly was right in his slamming the villains of 2G and (c) ex-judge Ganguly agreeing to quit the post in West Bengal would open the can of worms to set aside all his earlier judgements so that those who raped India's economy would walk free - end up doing? Do a frustrated Bhangra on the road?

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I am afraid, your Plan B is not going to take place. Because, there is something that is not addressed properly. "The Men's Perspective". Men are tired of being told how to be gentlemen by women. Day by day this sermoning increasing, after Nirbhaya incident, it increased exponentially. Now, men are sensing what's going around them, how unfairly they were treated even for petty issues. So, even if women are ready for N-Word, men may be not ready for that this time. Up to now, war is one sided. Now, it is not. All the best.

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